10 natural swimming spots across Hawaii —
Waterfall Pools,
spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools and hidden creek spots.
6 of 10 are free to visit.
10
Swimming Holes
6
Free Entry
7
Regions
1
Need Reservation
🌺
Hawaii
10 holes listed
Type:
Swimming in Hawaii
Hawaii has 10 documented natural swimming spots
ranging from spring-fed pools to waterfall plunge pools and river swims.
6 of them are free to visit. Browse by region below or use the filters above to find the right type of swim for you.
Hawaii Island / Hilo
1 spots
💦
Rainbow Falls (Waiānuenue, Big Island)
📍 Hilo, Hawaii County
Waterfall🟢 EasyFree Entry
One of the Big Island's most photographed and easily accessed waterfalls, named for the rainbows that often appear in its mist on sunny mornings — primarily a scenic overlook destination via an easy paved viewing area, not a developed swimming…
One of Hawaii's most famous black sand beaches, frequently visited by basking green sea turtles — regional safety guidance notes genuinely strong currents and undertow here, separate from the turtle-protection considerations (approaching turtles too closely is a federal offense under…
⚠️ Safety Notice
Strong currents and undertow are a documented hazard at this beach, separate from the well-known sea-turtle-protection distance requirements (federal law prohibits close approach to basking turtles) — both considerations are worth including accurately in any listing.
A famous, easily photographed twin waterfall (featured in the opening credits of the original 'Fantasy Island' TV show) — regional guides explicitly discourage the unofficial trail down to the pool given how steep and hazardous it is, treating this as…
⚠️ Safety Notice
Regional guides explicitly discourage the unofficial, unmaintained trail down to the pool at the base of this waterfall given how steep and hazardous it is — treat this as a roadside viewing overlook, not a swim destination, in any listing.
A stunningly scenic but genuinely hazardous stop on the famous Kalalau Trail — the beach itself has no reef protection and severe rip currents that have caused numerous drownings (swimming at the beach is widely discouraged), while the inland trail…
⚠️ Safety Notice
This beach has severe rip currents and is widely described by regional safety sources in the same breath as other genuinely dangerous Kauai swim spots — ocean swimming here is generally discouraged even by locals. The inland falls hike separately carries real flash-flood risk at stream crossings. Treat this as two distinct hazards (dangerous beach + flash-flood-prone inland hike) rather than a single simple destination.
💧 Ocean temperature at the beach; cool stream water inland
ʻOheʻo Gulch / Seven Sacred Pools (Haleakalā National Park)
📍 Hāna, Maui County
Waterfall🟢 Easy$30 per vehicle (NPS entrance…⚠️ Safety Note
Long marketed as the 'Seven Sacred Pools' (a name NPS itself notes is inaccurate — there are more than seven, and none are especially 'sacred' in that specific sense), this is a series of stream pools and waterfalls near Hana.…
⚠️ Safety Notice
A documented 2006 double-fatality here led to a lawsuit the victims' families won, specifically because recommended safety improvements after an earlier near-miss had not been implemented — a pattern of preventable-risk criticism, not just misfortune. Pools here are frequently closed to swimming after rain due to flash-flood risk; confirm current open/closed status before presenting this as a reliably swimmable spot on any given day.
Waterfall🟢 Easy$10 parking fee per vehicle⚠️ Safety Note
One of the most popular and easily reached waterfall stops on the Road to Hana, with a fruit stand at the parking area and a network of trails to multiple pools of varying accessibility.
⚠️ Safety Notice
As with other waterfall-adjacent pools in this project, avoid climbing above any drop, and check current flow after rain before swimming — flash-flood risk applies generally to Road to Hana stream crossings and pools.
A popular, easily reached local swimming hole along the Road to Hana, known for its clear pool and small waterfall. Proceed with extreme caution as this pool connects to the ocean and is prone to flash flooding.
One of Oahu's best snorkeling spots in calm summer conditions, within a protected marine life conservation district — but this is the same North Shore that produces some of the world's largest winter surf, and the cove is genuinely unsafe…
⚠️ Safety Notice
This is a genuine two-season location: excellent, safe snorkeling in calm summer surf, but part of the same North Shore famous for extremely dangerous winter waves — never treat a summer description of this spot as applying year-round.
A calm, family-friendly swimming beach with a popular jump-rock feature in summer — but this exact bay produces some of the biggest, most dangerous rideable ocean waves in the world each winter, drawing professional big-wave surfers and making swimming entirely…
⚠️ Safety Notice
This is the same bay famous for hosting some of the largest big-wave surf competitions on Earth each winter — a description of calm summer swimming/jumping conditions must never be presented as applying to winter, when this location is among the most dangerous ocean environments in Hawaii for anyone in the water who isn't a professional big-wave surfer.
A developed nonprofit botanical garden and cultural site with a mile-long path through gardens leading to a waterfall pool with LIFEGUARDS on duty — a genuinely safer, more supervised alternative to many of Hawaii's unofficial swimming holes.
6 of the 10 swimming holes in our Hawaii guide are completely free to visit.
Others charge a small entry fee, typically $5–15 per person.
Use the "Free Entry" filter above to see only the free spots.
When is the best time to visit swimming holes in Hawaii?
Late spring through early fall is generally the best season — typically May through September.
Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends, especially at popular spots.
Spring-fed holes maintain consistent water temperatures year-round, making them swimmable even outside peak season.
Do I need a reservation to visit Hawaii swimming holes?
1 of the spots in our guide require advance reservations, particularly
during peak summer weekends. These are marked with a "Reservation Required" badge on each listing.
Always book 1–2 weeks ahead for popular spots in July and August.
Is it safe to swim in natural swimming holes in Hawaii?
Natural swimming holes are generally safe when you check conditions before visiting.
Always check water levels after heavy rain, watch for blue-green algae in warm still water,
never swim alone in remote locations, and heed any posted closure signs.
Spots with known safety concerns are marked with warning badges in our listings.
What should I bring to a swimming hole in Hawaii?
Essentials: dry bag for your phone and keys, water shoes for rocky creek beds,
reef-safe sunscreen, plenty of drinking water, and a microfibre towel.
If visiting a remote spot, bring more water than you think you need and let someone
know where you're going before you leave.